Checkrein.



'No. 897,977. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908. B. J. GRANT.

GHEOKREIN.

APPLICATION FILED 001". 22, 1907.

BENSON JONES GRANT, OF GALENA, KANSAS.

cmicrmnm.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENSON J ONES GRANT, a c1t1zen of the United States, residin at Galena, in the county of Cherokee and tate of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Checkrein, of which the following is a specification. r i

This invention relates to check reins and has for its object to provide a comparatively slmple and inexpensive device of this character especially designed for attachment to a harness saddle and which will hold the head of a horse erect without danger of injuring the mouth of the animal.

A further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efiiciency as Well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

Further objects and advantages will apear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the ap ended claims.

11 the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a s1de elevation of a check rein attachment constructed in accordance with my invention showing the same in position on a harness saddle. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one section of the casing detached showing the spring actuated drum in position thereon. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the mating 860M011. Fig 5- is a plan view of Fig. 3.

Fi 6 is a p an view of Fig. 4.

imilar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved device forming the subject matter of the present invention includes a casing or housing preferably circular in shape, as shown, and formed of interlocking sections 5 and 6, one of said sections being provided with a threaded bolt or similar fastenin device 7 for attachment to the harness sa dle, indicated at 8.

Journaled in the sections-5- and 6 is a transverse shaft 9 on which is mounted for rotation a reel or drum'10.- Disposed within the drum 10 is .a coiled sprin 11 one end 'of which is secured to the sha t 9 while the o posite end thereof is fastened in any suitab e manner to the drum. Secured to the drum 10 is one end of a strap or other flexible me Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 22, 1907. Serial No. 398,628.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

dium 12 theopposite end of which is provided with a hook or similar fastening device 13 for detachable en agement with a check rein 14. The side wa ls of the drum 10 are preferably extended laterally beyond the peripheral edge 15 thereof to form parallel flanges 1'6 WlllCll serve to guide the strap 12 as the latter is wound upon or unwound from the drum. Keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to one end of the shaft 9 is a clutch or ratchet wheel 17 which engages a corresponding ratchet wheel 18 secured to the interior wall of the adjacent section 5 thereby to normally lock the shaft 9 against rotation. The opposite end-of the shaft 9 extends through t e section 6 and is provided with a terminal knob or finger piece 19 by means of which the shaft may be rotated toadjust the tension of the spring 11.

As a means for limiting the rotary movement of the drum 10 one wall of said drum is provided with a stop lug 20 which engages a corres onding lug 21 secured to the section 5, the atter being also provided with an opening or recess 23 for the reception of the adj acent end of a strap. The inner edge of the section 5 is provided with oppositely disposed bayonet slots 24 adapted to receive suitable locking pins or lugs 25 extending laterally from the inner edge of the section 6' so that by positioning the ins 25 in the slots 24 and partly rotating t e section 6, said sections will be locked in engagement with each other. Secured to the inner wall of the section 6 is one end of a leaf spring 26 the opposite end of which bears against the adj a cent wall of the drum 10 thereby to yieldably support the locking pins 25 in engagement with the walls of the slots 24 and thus assist in preventing accidental displacement of the sections comprising the casing. The sprin 26 also serves to normally and yieldably hold the ratchets 17 and 18 in engagement with each other. It will thus be seen that when a longitudinal pull is exerted on the check rein 14 the strap 12 will be unwound from the drum and in doing so will tighten the spring 11 so that when the pull on the check rein 14 is released the spring 11 will automatically rewind the strap 12 on said drum.

In order to regulate the tension of the spring 11 it is merely necessary to rotate the finger piece 19 which causes the teeth on the ratchet wheel 17 to slide over the face of the teeth on the ratchet wheel 18, said teeth being yieldably supported in engagement with each other by means of the spring id, as be- I fore stated. It will of course be understood that the casing may be made indifferent sizes and shapes and attached toJany portion of a harness. It will also be understood that any suitable fastening device may be emplo ed for securing the casin on the harness without departing from t e spirit of the inven-- tion.

From the foregoing descri tion it will be seen that there is provide an extremel simple, inexpensive and-efficient device ad mirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view. I

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A device-of the class described including a casing provided with a ratchet, a shaft journaled in the casing and provided with a through the casing and corresponding ratchet adapted to engage the ratchet on the casing, a spring actuated drum mounted for rotation on the shaft and spaced from one, wall of the casing by said ratchets,a strap secured to the drum and provided with means for engagement with a check rein, and a sprlng interposed between the drumand the other wall of the casing for yield'ably sup orting the ratchets in engagement with eac other. 4 I

2. A device of the class described includ- .ing a casing having a ratchet secured thereto, a shaft journaled in the casing and provided with a corresponding ratchet, a spring actuated drum mounted for rotation on the shaft and bearing against the ratchet on the latter, a strap having one end thereof secured to the drumand its opposite endassing rovide with means for engagement with t e check rein, a

spring arranged on the opposite side of the casing from the ratchets and interposed between the drum and the adj acent-wall of the casing for-yieldabl supporting the ratchets 1n engagement wit each other, and a finger 7 thereof secured to the drum and its opposite end extended through the casing an piece secured to one end of the shaft.

8. A device of the class described includ'-,

ing a casing havin a ratchet secured thereto, atransverse shat journaled in the casing and provided with a corresponding ratchet, a spring actuated drum mounted for rotation on the shaft, a strap having one end pro- I bayonet vided with means for attachment to a check rein, a spring interposed between the drum and the adjacent wall of'the casing for yieldabl sup orting the ratchets in engagement wit eacii other, a stop extending laterally from the casin and a corresponding stop secured to the rum and adapted to engage the stop on the casing for limiting the rotary movement of the drum. I

4. A device of the class described including a casin formed of 'a plurality of sections one of whic is provided with sipaced bayonet slots, pins extending laterally om the o posite section and ada ted to engage said s ots, a spring actuated rum mounted-forrotae tion'in the casing, a strap having one end I thereof secured to the drum and its opposite end passing through the adj acent casing section and provided with means for .attach-' ment to a check rein, and a spring interposed between the drum and adjacent casing section for locking the pins in engagement with the walls of the slots.

5. A deviceof the class described including a casing formed'of mating sections one of which is ,rovided withoppositely disposed slots, a shaft journaled in the casing, a ratchet rigidly secured to the shaft,

a corresponding ratchet secured to the adjacent casing section, a spring actuated drum mounted. for rotation on the shaft, a strap having one end thereof secured to the drum and its opposite end extending through the adjacent casing section and provided with means for engagement with a check rein, pins extending laterally from the mating section, a spring interposed between thedrum and the adjacent casing section for holding the ins in engagement with the walls of the s ots, coacting stops carried by the casing and drum, respectively, for limiting the rotary movement of the drum, and a finger piece secured to one end of theshaft for rotating the shaft to regulate the tension of the spring.

In testimony in' the presence of two witnesses.

BENSON JONES GRANT.

I that I claim the foregoing as I my own, I-have hereto afiixed my signature 

